Accessory device for a conducted electrical weapon

Abstract

An accessory device may be configured to output an electrical signal from a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”). An accessory device may include a conducted energy shield. A conducted energy shield may include a shield body having a receiving unit for removably receiving a CEW that is used to provide an electrical current to one or more discharge rails disposed along a forward facing surface of the shield body and configured to deliver a high voltage current to an object coming into contact with the discharge rails. Once the CEW is removed from the receiving unit the shield body is unable to generate an electrical current across the discharge rails.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) comprising a signal generator in electrical communication with a receiving bay; and   an accessory device electrically coupled to the receiving bay of the CEW, wherein an input received from the accessory device causes the CEW to provide an electrical current to the accessory device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current comprises a stimulus signal. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory device comprises a conducted energy shield. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory device comprises a non-deployable device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein in response to the CEW being electrically coupled to the accessory device, the CEW is configured to enter an accessory mode. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory device comprises a trigger, and wherein activation of the trigger causes the accessory device to provide the input to the CEW. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory device comprises a control interface, and wherein activation of the control interface causes the accessory device to provide a control signal to the CEW. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control signal enables or disables provision of the electrical current from the CEW. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory device comprises a cartridge interface configured to be received into the receiving bay of the CEW. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge interface is configured to inform the CEW that the CEW is electrically coupled to the accessory device. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 providing, by an accessory device, a control signal to a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”), wherein the accessory device is electrically coupled to a receiving bay of the CEW;   receiving, by the accessory device, an electrical signal from the CEW, wherein the electrical signal is provided responsive to the control signal; and   outputting, by the accessory device, the electrical signal.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising electrically coupling the accessory device to the CEW. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the accessory device comprises a cartridge interface, and wherein the electrically coupling comprises inserting the cartridge interface into the receiving bay of the CEW. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the outputting comprises discharging the electrical signal from a discharge rail of the accessory device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical signal comprises a stimulus signal. 
     
     
         16 . An accessory device for receiving an electrical current from a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”), the accessory device comprising:
 a housing defining a bay, wherein the bay is configured to receive and electrically and mechanically couple to the CEW; 
 a cartridge insertion device disposed within the bay, wherein the cartridge insertion device is configured to be inserted within a receiving bay of the CEW to electrically couple the bay to the CEW; and 
 a trigger coupled to the housing, wherein an activation of the trigger transmits a control signal to the CEW, and wherein responsive to the control signal the CEW is configured to provide the electrical current to the accessory device. 
 
     
     
         17 . The accessory device of  claim 16 , further comprising a discharge rail coupled to the housing, wherein the discharge rail is configured to output the electrical current. 
     
     
         18 . The accessory device of  claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises a baton shape. 
     
     
         19 . The accessory device of  claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises a conducted energy shield having a concave shape. 
     
     
         20 . The accessory device of  claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises a conducted energy shield having a convex shape.